Mobile Practice Dummy

ABSTRACT

A practice dummy comprising a remotely controlled, self-propelled base unit supporting a detachable upper body enables athletes to practice football skills against a dummy that can simulate the speed and mobility of a human player.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to practice dummies used to teach football skills to athletes and, more particularly, to a mobile, remotely controlled practice dummy particularly useful for teaching and practicing skills to be employed with mobile opponents.

Practice dummies are widely used to teach tackling and blocking techniques and skills to football players. Practice dummies enable players to learn and practice proper technique while reducing bodily wear and tear and the potential for injury that accompanies live tackling and blocking drills with other players. Practice dummies typically comprise a simple padded structure which may be either handheld, freestanding or attached to a sled. The practice dummy is usually located in front of the player to provide a target for practicing blocking and tackling techniques. Sled mounted and standalone dummies provide resistance to the tackler and blocker simulating the resistance encountered in tackling and blocking a human player but provide only a static target. Dummies held by members of the coaching staff can be moved but movement is limited because the holder of the dummy typically must be stationary to resist the impact of the tackler or blocker and to avoid injury when the dummy is impacted. While practice dummies are useful for teaching basic blocking and tackling techniques, opposing players are not static objects and live drills with other players are typically required to teach techniques useful when the tackler or blocker is opposed by a human player who is moving while initiating or evading contact.

What is desired, therefore, is a practice dummy sufficiently mobile to simulate a human player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective of an exemplary mobile practice dummy.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cover portion of the exemplary mobile practice dummy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a propulsion unit for the exemplary mobile practice dummy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a mobile base unit for the exemplary mobile practice dummy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the propulsion unit of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to the drawings where similar parts are identified by like reference numerals, and, more particularly to FIG. 1, the mobile practice dummy 20 comprises generally an upper body 22 and a remotely controllable, self-propelled base unit 24. The upper body 22 comprises a pliant mass intended to simulate the body of an opposing player. The upper body preferably comprises a compressible material such as a plastic foam covered with an abrasion resistant outer shell such as a vinyl covering and may have a mass intended to simulate the mass of an opposing player. The upper body may be any shape including the shape of a human torso but commonly available practice dummies have a generally frustoconical shape as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring also to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the base unit 24 is self-propelled and remotely controllable and comprises generally a propulsion unit 23 and a cover 25. The propulsion unit 23 comprises generally a chassis 43 supported by a plurality of ground engaging elements, for examples, wheels 40, 42 or caterpillar treads. The chassis comprises generally a plurality of longitudinal plates 44 spaced apart by and secured to each other by a plurality of lateral members 46.

The wheels 40, 42 are mounted on axles 52, 54 which rotate in bearings 56 that are secured to longitudinal chassis plates 44. Batteries 60, secured in the chassis, provide the energy to operate the self-propelled base unit. The exemplary base unit 24 is propelled and steered by two powered wheels 40, each driven by a respective motor 62, 64. Power is transferred to the respective wheel from its motor by a transmission comprising a gear set including a pinion 66 attached to the motor shaft and a driven gear 68 which rotates a jackshaft 70 rotatably supported in the chassis. A first pulley 72 attached to the jackshaft 70 is coupled by a drive belt 76 to a second pulley 74 which is drivingly connected to the respective powered wheel. The speed and direction of rotation of each motor 62, 64 are separately controllable by a respective electronic speed controller 78, 80. The electronic speed controllers 78, 80 respond to signals from at least one receiver 82 of electromagnetic signals by applying variable width electrical pulses to the respective motors. The motor responds to the pulses by rotating at substantially the same speed as it would if it was excited by a continuous voltage equal to the time weighted average voltage of the series of pulses. Although signals in another portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared light, might be used to control the practice dummy, the receiver 82 is typically a radio frequency receiver receiving signals from a remote radio frequency transmitter 84 which is typically operated by a member of the coaching staff. The operator is able to remotely control the speed and direction of rotation of the individual motors and thereby the speed and direction of the mobile practice dummy to simulate the actions of a human player.

A resilient bumper assembly 47 substantially encircles the chassis 43 of the propulsion unit. The bumper assembly preferably comprises a resilient outer bumper band 48 that substantially encircles the chassis and resilient supporting bumper bands 49, 50, 51 which are affixed to respective longitudinal and lateral members 44, 46 defining the perimeter of the chassis. The bumper bands which preferably comprise a resilient plastic, such as an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic, resiliently deform when the propulsion unit comes in contact with another object, such as a player, to protect the propulsion unit and the other object.

The cover 25 is generally cylindrical in shape and preferably comprises resilient plastic foam covered with an abrasion resistant outer shell, such as vinyl. The cover includes a portion, in the underside of the cover, defining a cavity 26 that is arranged to fit over the propulsion unit and an upper interface surface 33 to engage and support the upper body 22 when it is installed on the base unit 24. The cover is supported by the propulsion unit and the cavity 26 includes a base surface 28 and a side wall 30 which is arranged to encircle and engage the outer bumper band 48 to support the cover and aid in restraining lateral displacement of the cover and the upper body when the speed and direction of the base unit changes. The cover 25 is detachably restrained to the propulsion unit 24 by a first element 94 and a complementary second element 96 of a hook and loop fastener affixed respectively to the outer bumper band 48 and to the sidewall 30 of the cavity 26 in the cover. The restraint provided by the hook and loop fastener reduces the likelihood of separation of the cover when the speed or direction of the dummy changes or when the dummy is impacted or tipped by a blocker or tackler but allows removal the cover for access to the propulsion unit. The side wall 30 is the inner surface of a skirt portion 32 of the cover 25 which encircles the base unit. When a tackler or blocker engages the upper body 22 it is possible that the player will make contact with the base unit as well. The resilient skirt 32 prevents direct contact with the bumper of the propulsion unit and reduces the likelihood that the blocker or tackler will make contact with more rigid elements of the propulsion unit.

A significant portion of the practice dummy's weight is represented by the base unit 24 and the low center of mass of the practice dummy enables rapid direction and speed changes without tipping, simulating the speed and mobility of a human player. The inventor realized that the upper body could tip or slide and become detached from the mobile base unit during rapid maneuvering. In addition, when a tackler or blocker makes contact with the upper body of the practice dummy, the force of the contact will tend to overturn the practice dummy and, if the base unit remained attached to the upper body and tipped, with the upper body the tackler or blocker could fall on the upturned base unit. To reduce the likelihood of contact between a player and the base unit and to retain the upper body during rapid maneuvering, the inventor arranged the upper body 22 to be supported by and restrained to the base unit, but separable from the base unit 24 when the upper body is contacted by another object such as a player tackling or blocking the dummy. Although other mechanisms for increasing the separation resistance of the engaged surfaces of the upper body and the base unit, such as magnets, might be used, the inventor concluded that separability with an appropriate resistance to separation could be achieved by affixing portions of first element 90 and a complementary second element 92 of a hook and loop fastener to respective portions of surfaces, the interface surface 33 of the cover and the supporting surface 35 of the upper body, which engage each other when the upper body is installed on the base unit.

The self-propelled, remotely controlled practice dummy can simulate the speed and mobility of a human athlete enabling potential tacklers and blockers to practice appropriate techniques for engaging other players without engaging in live drills with other players. Releasably securing the upper body to the mobile base unit allows the practice dummy to change speed and direction rapidly without separating the upper body from the base unit but allows separation of the upper body and the base unit when a player tackles or blocks the dummy.

The detailed description, above, sets forth numerous specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention.

All the references cited herein are incorporated by reference.

The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow. 

1. A mobile practice dummy comprising: (a) a self-propelled base; and (b) an upper body simulating a portion of a human body and adapted to be supported and movable by the base, the upper body securable to the base to avoid detachment when at least one of a speed and a direction of the base changes but detachable from the base when contacted by another object.
 2. The mobile practice dummy of claim 1 wherein the self-propelled base comprises: (a) a propulsion unit; and (b) a cover supportable by and releasably securable to the propulsion unit and including an interface surface arranged to engage a supporting surface of the upper body.
 3. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 wherein the supporting surface of the upper body is releasably securable to the interface surface.
 4. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 further comprising: (a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the interface surface; and (b) a second complementary element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body such that the second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener will engage the first element when the upper body is supported by the base.
 5. The mobile practice dummy of claim 2 further comprising: (a) a bumper supported by the propulsion unit; (b) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the bumper; and (c) a second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to a surface of the cover and arranged to engage the first element when the cover is installed on the propulsion unit.
 6. The mobile practice dummy of claim 1 wherein the propulsion unit further comprises: (a) a first powered ground engaging element; (b) a second powered ground engaging element; and (c) a controller arranged to regulate at least one of a speed and direction of the first powered ground engaging element independent of a speed and direction of the second ground engaging element.
 7. The mobile practice dummy of claim 6 wherein the base further comprises a receiver to receive electromagnetic signals from a remote transmitter and to signal the controller to change at least one of the speed and direction of at least one powered ground engaging element.
 8. A mobile practice dummy comprising: (a) a propulsion unit arranged for self-propelled movement at a speed and in a direction controllable from a location remote from the propulsion unit; (b) a cover detachably supported by the propulsion unit; (c) a pliant upper body simulating a portion of a human body and including a supporting surface; (d) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body; and (e) a second element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to an interface portion of the cover such that the second element of the hook and loop fastener engages the first element of the hook and loop fastener when the supporting surface of the upper body is supported by the interface portion of the cover, engagement of the first element and the second element restraining separation to enable direction and speed changes of the practice dummy without separating the upper body and the base unit but permitting separation of the upper body from the base unit when the upper body is impacted by another object.
 9. The mobile practice dummy of claim 8 further comprising: (a) a first element of a second hook and loop fastener affixed to the propulsion unit; and (b) a second complementary element of the second hook and loop fastener affixed to the cover, the first and second elements of the second hook and loop fastener arranged to engage and releasably secure the cover to the propulsion unit when the cover is supported by the propulsion unit.
 10. A mobile practice dummy comprising: (a) a self-propelled base including a substantially planar interface portion; and (b) a pliant upper body simulating a portion of a human body and including a substantially planar supporting surface securable to the interface portion to avoid detachment of the upper body when at least one of a speed and a direction of the base changes but separable from the interface portion for detachment of the upper body when the upper body is contacted by a user of the practice dummy.
 11. The mobile practice dummy of claim 10 further comprising: (a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the supporting surface of the upper body; and (b) a second element of the hook and loop fastener affixed to the interface portion such that the second element of the hook and loop fastener engages the first element of the hook and loop fastener when the supporting surface of the upper body is supported by the interface portion, engagement of the first element and the second element restraining relative lateral displacement of the supporting surface and the interface portion to maintain union of the upper body and base during direction and speed changes but permitting separation of the upper body from the base unit when the upper body is impacted.
 12. The mobile practice dummy of claim 10 wherein the self-propelled base comprises: (a) a propulsion unit substantially encircled by a resilient bumper; and (b) a pliant cover supportable by the propulsion unit to substantially enclose an upper portion and a peripheral surface of said resilient bumper, said pliant cover comprising the interface portion.
 13. The mobile practice dummy of claim 12 further comprising: (a) a first element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the cover; and (b) a second complementary element of a hook and loop fastener affixed to the propulsion unit such that the second complementary element of the hook and loop fastener will releasably engage the first element when the cover is supported by the propulsion unit. 